Assessment of psychotropic drugs use since the Covid-19 pandemic among residents living in 7 nursing homes, in Brittany, France

This study aimed to determine the course of psychotropic drugs use since the Covid-19 pandemic onset among nursing homes (NH) residents in Brittany, France. We conducted a retrospective, observational, descriptive study, including 7 NH. We collected the data about antipsychotic, antianxiety, hypnotic and antidepressant drugs dispensed from January 2016 to June 2021, and compared their consumptions over 3 periods (1: January 2016 to December 2019; 2: January to December 2020; 3: January to June 2021) using the unit of measurement DDD. In the whole NH population, no significant changes were found. At a NH level, the results between periods 1 and 2 were very different, depending on the NH. For NH with a single nursing home-employed physician, there was an increase of antipsychotic drugs use between periods 1 and 2, and 1 and 3. During periods 2 and 3, the consumption of antipsychotic drugs was higher for NH with a single nursing home-employed physician. The course of psychotropic drugs use since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic changed depending on the NH organization. Further studies are needed to identify the factors explaining differences between NH.